Brad Anderson of Lincoln has been living with the nightmare since his wife, Luanne Anderson, was diagnosed with the disease.

"It's hard to believe less than six years after Luanne was diagnosed, she can no longer walk, care for herself or say more than two words," he said.

Brad Anderson came to the state capitol rotunda on Tuesday to applaud the state for becoming the 45th to develop a plan that addresses a growing epidemic that drains families of their emotions and life savings.

"Alzheimer's disease is a national health crisis and the most expensive disease in America," said Clayton Freeman of the Nebraska Alzheimer's Association.

The disease costs $236 billion per year.

The state plans calls for a number of things:

• Improving the quality of Alzheimer's services across the state• Increasing awareness of the disease and encouraging early detection• Educating health professionals and other caregivers• Offering more options and access for home and community-based care

"Right now, it's not a fiscal document as much as where we need to go," Freeman said.

Anderson wishes the plan had been around to help him deal with things like filing legal documents, power of attorney or separating assets so his wife could qualify for Medicaid.

"Perhaps we can make a terrible diagnosis just a little bit easier," he said.